The arrangements for treating wounded soldiers at Gallipoli were well established by the time of the August offensive. Soldiers were treated immediately at aid posts in the front line, with the seriously wounded moved to the casualty clearing station at ANZAC Cove or on to hospital ships. Cases expected to recover within three weeks were sent to field hospitals on Imbros and Lemnos Islands, while seriously wounded and sick soldiers were transferred to hospitals in Egypt or Malta.
At the battle of Lone Pine, Regimental Medical Officers (RMO) of the 1st and 3rd Battalions worked from aid posts in the original line until the position was occupied, while the 2nd Battalion RMO took part in the assault and formed a temporary aid post in the captured trenches. From these aid posts, wounded were moved to the cove by the 1st and 3rd Field Ambulances working in relay. Some 700 cases, serious and slight, were moved in the first night.
The casualties from the bombing counter-attacks by the Turks over the days of the Lone Pine battle put enormous strain on the medical arrangements. Stretchers numbers were limited and the advanced dressing station became congested. Medical officers were forced to leave "hopeless" cases and instruct all who could walk to take themselves to the cove. Like the fighting, medical support required courage, endurance and resourcefulness.
